Indexing device



May 27, 1924.

Jl R. HUNNEMAN .INDEXINC DEVI CEv lFiled June 25. 1923 Patented May 27, 19.24.

JOI-IN R. HUNNEMAN, OF WELLESLEY HILLS, MASSACHUSETTS.

INDEXING DEVICE.

Application filed June 25, 1923. Serial No. 647,611.

.T all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, Jol-1N R. HUNNEMAN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at /Vellesley Hills, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indexing Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an improved form of indexing device, and has for its object improvements of construction, strength, and stiffness, lightness in weight, cheapness in manufacture and durability.

Its chief characteristic is that the index tab has a rigidity throughout, that prevents any tendency to bending or doubling, especially at the edge of the index page, sheet, file or the like. Other characteristics wil) 20 appear hereinafter.

In the drawings illustrating the principle of my invention and the best mode now known to me of embodying the same in op erative structure,

Fig. l shows my improved index to be fixed to a. sheet or page of paper, say a ledger page.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section of the same on line 2 2 Fig. l.

Figs. 3 and 4 show the separate elements of my tab, before being assembled.

Fig. 5 shows these elements assembled ready to be cut up into tabs of any desired width.

Fig. 6 shows a tab of the desired width.

Fig. 7 shows the tab positioned in the desired relation with a ledger page, and ready to be secured rigidly thereto, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

A long, thin and narrow rectangular strip of stiff material l, Fig. 3, such, for example, as fibre board, of suitable dimensions, is provided.

Upon its top surface 2 there are parallel longitudinal positioning lines 3; said top surface and the under'surface having muci lage thereon.

For the stiifener there is a cover or binder 4 of some thin flexible material, say, a light fabric. In length, the binder is substantially the same as the stiffener, but in width it is greater. Before combining the binder with the stiffener, the binder is folded lengthwise, and in order that it may become fixed not only to the stifener, but later to one face of a page to be indexed, the adjacent faces 5, 6, of the two folds 7, 8, are provided with mucilage. f'

The position of the crease 9 of this fold j is such that when the crease is adjacent to the edge l0, Fig. 5, of the stiffener, the outer edge portion of the lower fold 7 of the binder extends beyond the edge of the stitfener and forms a lip ll, Figs. 5, 6,17 and 2; while the width of the upper fold 8 of(i5 the binder may be substantially that of the stiffener.

By moistening one fold, as 5, Fig. 4, of the binder, and pressing it against the bottom of the stiifener, the vtwo become fixed 7.0 together as shownin F ig. 5, and are in merchantable form. Obviously from this structure, one or more index tabs having the desired width may be cut off,v as with shears.

To tix the tab to any particular card l2. Figs. 1, 2 and 7 the top surface 2, Figs. 3 and 5, of the stiffener and the adjacent surface 6, Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the free fold of the binder are moistened; the top surface of the stiifener is moved under the edge portion of the card 12, Fig. *7, until one of the guide lines 3, desired, coincides with the said edge; and then the pressure of the fingers is exerted against the outside of the folds, causing the gummed surface of the binder and the stiffener to engage, and become fixed to, the opposite sides of the edge portion of the card 12, Figs. 1 and 2, to be indexed.

It is now` at once, obvious that no portion of the tab is flexible; that there can be no bending, or cracking of the tab along the edge of the card, sheet, file or the like ,7n that the tab always stands up, that is, remains in the plane of the page or tile, and is ready to be grasped by the fingers of the person using the index, and that the lip additionally secures the tab to the page or ii'le and serves to obviate interference between the free edge of the sti ffener and an adjacent page or iile.

t is further plain that the above mentioned construction is simple, strong, stiff. light in weight, cheap to manufacture, and very durable. y

The positioning lines are a valuable feature of my invention, in that by means of them, there may result a uniformity in the height in all, or in a group, or groups, of the index tabs used in a book, or a system, 11.0

but of course they may be dispensed With if one so Wishes.

Desiringto protect my invention in the broadest manner legally possible,

VVbat claim is l. An indexing tab comprising a member of stift', thin material; lines thereon for positioning` the mid-portion of said stiff? member in relation to the edge of the sheet or ile to be indexed; a binder of flexible fabric folded upon itself, one fold being secured to tlie under side of said stiff member, and tlie free fold being coextensive With the top surface of said stilf member; the top surface of the stitl' member and adjacent under surface of the free fold of tbe binder being` mucilaged for tlie purpose of securing these latter surfaces of the tab to the sheet or tile.

2. An indexing tab comprising' a member of stiff, thin material; a binder of flexible material doubled upon itself, one fold being secured to the under side of said stift member, and the free fold being` coextensive with tlie top surface of the stiff member; the top surface of tbe stiti" member and the adjacent under surface of the free fold of the binder beingl muoilaged for the purpose of securing the mid-portion of the stift member in relation to tbe edge of the sheet or tile.

, 3. An indexing device comprising` a membei' of stif material; and a binder of ilexible material doubled upon itself; said stiff member and flexible binder beingl provided with mucilaged surfaces to secure one surface of the stiff member to one side of the slieet or file to be indexed, and one'fold of the flexible binder to the opposite side of said sheet or iile, the free edge of said sheet or file lying across said stift member.

4L. An indexing device comprising astiff member; a binder f suitable material foldable upon itself; said stiff member and flexible member being provided with gummed surfaces whereby tbe stiff member may be so positioned and secured in relation to the free edge of the sheet or file to be indexed, that said free edge lies across said stift member.

5. A n indexing tab comprising a member of stiff, thin material; a binder of flexible material doubled upon itself, one fold being mucilaged and secured to tbe under surface of the stili member, but extending beyond the outer edge of said stift member to form ay securing and protecting lip; tlie top surface of the stift member and the adjacent under sur-face of tlie free fold of tlie binder being coeXtensive and mucilaged for the purpose of securingl tlie top face of the stiff member and the under [face of the free fold, to opposite sides of the sheet or file to be indexed.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atlix my signature.

JOHN R. HUNNEMAN. 

